Chambers County is right on the eastern edge of central Alabama, and it was founded in 1832. The county seat is LaFayette but the offices for getting any Chambers County Public Records are in Valley. You'll want to contact the health department office there for copies of most vital records.
If you visit their office in person, they can usually issue certified copies of the records you need while you wait. You just need to have the form completed and the fee ready. The fee may vary by record type, and they prefer payment by check or money order that has been issued to the State Board of Health.
For making requests directly to the state Department of Vital Records in Montgomery, you can mail in your application which will usually be returned to you within 1 to 2 weeks. The forms for requests are the same in either case.
Note that the fees are not refunded should your records not be found.
Chambers County Birth Records
In Chambers County, and all of Alabama, there are privacy restrictions on getting copies of birth certificates. They are not accessible to the public for 125 years after the date of birth, unless you are after your own certificate or one for an immediate family member. Anything older than 125 years is available to anyone, but since the state only started recording births in 1908, there may not be that many records available. Also keep in mind that many county records from before 1908 didn't have the name of the child, only the birth date and the parent's names. A certified copy of a Chambers County birth record will cost $15 USD.
Chambers County Death Records
Chambers County death records are only kept private for 25 years, so anything older than that can be accessed by anyone. The State Archives, local libraries and even several online genealogy websites can give you free access to many of these records though they won't be certified copies. You can still order official copies from the state or local health department if you wish, and it will be necessary for those more recent than 25 years.
Chambers County Marriage Records
Marriage records can be retrieved by anyone, provided that the wedding took place after 1936. Older records can sometimes be found through newspaper notices or church records. A certified copy of a Chambers County marriage record can be ordered through the health department for $15 USD. If you also need divorce records, they are also available after 1950.
Chambers County Criminal Records
Criminal records are not available to the public unless you are a legitimate employer who needs access in order to do a background check on a potential new employee. You are also legally allowed to get a copy of your own criminal history, and copies will cost $25 USD. To get a Chambers County criminal record, you have to send a request to the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center. Their website has all the details on forms. You'll need to include fingerprints with your application.
